he communication department's role in an organization's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities partially depends on how the organization approaches CSR. 

If the CSR approach is superficial and is intended only to get a quick PR hit, the communication department can certainly help to identify the best issues to be tackled and how best to get mileage out of those efforts. In a similar cynical vein, the communications function can also serve to identify the right mix of CSR 'success stories' and the 'more work needed' stories in the annual CSR report.

Clearly, not all CSR efforts deserve cynicism. In those many organizations where there is a genuine effort at CSR, empowerment comes from the top: the CEO.  CSR may be ingrained in the culture of the organization and the CEO acts as the steward of that heritage, or maybe the CEO is the source and the champion of CSR.  Often, the management of CSR falls to one or some combination of vice presidents (HR, corporate communications, etc.).

In general, I believe that the communication department's role in CSR increases with the extent that the communication function helps to define and maintain the culture of the organization. I have always advised that the communications function includes working to create the best image for the organization, internally and externally, and that this responsibility includes identifying opportunities and threats regarding the organization's ethics and corporate responsibility or lack thereof.

Dean Williams
President, WS&A